 |
Wanda Aragon has been one of the foremost Acoma potters for many
years. She comes from a long and distinguished line of potters.
Wanda learned from her mother, Frances Torivio, one of the greatest
Acoma potters who is now 96 years old.
Wanda
has searched traditional designs in numerous museums throughout
the country and believes strongly in keeping the traditional
designs and techniques alive. She uses only the natural shale-like
clay found only on the Acoma reservation. She mixes this clay
with ground pottery shards, also found on the reservation. Next
the pot is hand coiled. The white background or ‘slip’
is clay diluted to a creamy consistency. The black is derived
from hematite, a mineral, and boiled beeweed. The orange and
red are clay ground up and soaked in water to produce a thick
‘paint’. Wanda uses a yucca brush to paint her intricate
free-hand designs.
Wanda has a long list of awards beginning with Best of Division
and First Place at the 1987 Santa Fe Indian Market for an 1890
design polychrome water jar. Since 1987, she has won awards
on a regular basis at the leading Native American Art competitions.
Click
here to view the work of Wanda Aragon
|
